If Your Hybrid is Even More Efficient in the Future, Thank
This Guy

ANN ARBOR, MI - June 20, 2014: Eric Dede has
always been interested in the future. Futuristic concepts such as space and
astronautics have always consumed Eric’s attention. That’s how
he ended up as a senior engineer for the University of Michigan’s
Space Physics Research laboratory. It’s also why he is now a Manager
of the Electronics Research Department (ERD) at Toyota Technical Center
(TTC), where his main responsibilities are the development of elemental
technologies for future hybrid vehicle power electronic systems. TTC,
Toyota’s North American R&D center, is a division of Toyota Motor
Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc. (TEMA).

After spending considerable time working with the University of Michigan
Space Physics Research Laboratory, Eric decided in 2008 to test the waters
in the evolving technology of hybrid vehicles and joined Toyota to research
and develop multiphysics simulation and thermal management technology for
hybrid vehicle power electronic systems. While that may seem like a
mouthful, it comes down to a pretty simple concept: Make Toyota’s
hybrid vehicles even better.

Now five years after joining Toyota, Eric’s futuristic mindset has
helped him invent something that has the potential to significantly improve
the efficiency of hybrid vehicles. His invention is a new Micro-channel
Cold Plate in EVs and Hybrids. It provides a 70% increase in heat transfer
with a 50% reduction of pumping power. What that boils down to is the
potential for a 10% increase in hybrid efficiency.

This invention has the potential to have such a major impact that it was
recognized for an R&D 100 Award. The R&D 100 Awards, often called the
“Oscars of Invention” recognize and celebrate the top 100
technology products of the year. In a highly innovative and quickly
evolving field, having one of the top 100 technology products is no small
feat, but it’s not the first R&D 100 award Toyota engineers and
scientists have won. It is, however, the first that resulted from research
that was done entirely in-house at TTC. While the patent and resulting
award bear Eric’s name, he’s certainly not one to take all the
credit. “This was a great collaborative project that established
useful methods for the advanced design and optimization of
electromechanical systems.” Dede said.

Eric and his fellow TTC scientists and engineers were recognized for
their efforts that lead to 1,355 patents in 2013 at a special
“Innovation Dinner” held June 19th near the TTC Ann Arbor,
Mich., campus.

TEMA president Simon Nagata commended the awardees for their efforts in
furthering Toyota’s recognition not only as a leading automotive
company, but also as a leading technology company. “The innovations
developed by our TTC engineers and scientists show that we’re not
just keeping pace- we’re helping to set the pace.”